Lacey Helen Blog's: June 2020

Tuesday, 30 June 2020

Looking for a Smooth Sale, Carlos Santana Lists Heavenly Hawaii Home for $3M

Carlos Santana Kauai house — realtor.com, Samir Hussein/Getty Images

The legendary musician Carlos Santana has changed his tune. He’s put his tropical retreat in Anahola, HI, on the market for $2,995,000, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The longtime performer picked up the home on the island of Kauai just last year, for $2.7 million.

The listing details note that the home “captured his heart when he first moved to Kauai.”

The property on the Garden Island’s east coast features a mountain backdrop and ocean views. It certainly looks like a place that will eventually strike the right chord with a buyer in search of an island paradise.

Santana’s home in Anahola, HI
realtor.com

Living room with walls of windows
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Glass doors open to the deck.
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Perched on a hilltop, the island retreat offers four bedrooms, five bathrooms, and just under 4,000 square feet of living space.

Behind a gate and a long, palm-lined driveway, the home, which was built in 2005, offers “ultimate privacy.”

The main house includes a living space with a vaulted ceiling and floor-to-ceiling glass windows. Sliding glass doors open out to a newly refinished, 1,300-square-foot ipe deck. The bedrooms also open outside.

Along with outdoor dining space, the home features a formal dining room indoors. The kitchen is described as a “chef’s delight,” with a six-burner propane stove, granite counter space, a wine cooler, and bar seating.

As a natural bonus, both the kitchen and dining room offer views of Kalalea Mountain.

A separate guesthouse features two sets of sliding glass doors that access a private lanai and grassy area with its own hot tub. Be careful—with such a welcoming setup, your guests may never want to leave.

The home is located on 1.48 acres in a neighborhood that has relatively few tourists, and the beach is just a short walk away.

The 10-time Grammy winner is best known for his band, Santana. He and his wife, the percussionist Cindy Blackman Santana, are probably sidelined for the foreseeable future from their Las Vegas residency at House of Blues in the Mandalay Bay Resort. They have reportedly been hunkered down in Hawaii.

Harvest Edmonds of Emerald Isle Properties holds the listing.

The post Looking for a Smooth Sale, Carlos Santana Lists Heavenly Hawaii Home for $3M appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

source https://www.realtor.com/news/celebrity-real-estate/carlos-santana-selling-home-on-kauai/

‘Ivy House’ From ‘Fixer Upper’ Season 5 Is Available for $550K

“Fixer Upper” fans in search of a Chip and Joanna Gaines fix can now purchase a home renovated on the show in season five. “The Ivy House,” from the third episode of the show’s final season, is listed for $549,900.

Located in Woodway, TX, the home has been on the market since late April, and the price has been sliced four times in just two months. It initially went up for sale on April 29, with an asking price of $629,900. In short order, almost 13% has been cut from the price.

The current homeowners, Gayle and Tim Jackson, appeared on the popular show and told Chip and Jo that they wanted a “coastal” vibe for their abode. They also requested that the design incorporate a home office, a layout that worked well for cooking and entertaining, and a space for guests.

The Jacksons had an “all-in” budget of $400,000, and dropped $212,000 to purchase the Ivy House. That left $188,000 for the Magnolia team to spend on their renovation magic.

The “Fixer Upper” team transformed a once tired four-bedroom space into a home with a bright and functional interior.

The team helped to elevate the home’s nonexistent curb appeal and added a few signature touches along the way. All the work came in under budget—the Jacksons spent $174,000 on the renovations.

Touches to the exterior, such as a pergola and Bahama shutters, are meant to evoke an island vibe.

“We want the Jacksons to feel like they’re on vacation every single day,” Chip says in the episode.

Inside, plenty of trademark Gaines style is visible in the home’s 3,484-square-foot layout.

The “Ivy House” in Woodway, TX
realtor.com

Living room with exposed beams
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Dining room with French doors
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Game room and guest room with Murphy bed
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Details include the addition of shiplap to the office, as well as French doors out to the patio.

In the dining room, French doors open to create a brightly lit space. Just adjacent, the living area includes a double-sided stucco fireplace flanked by archways and exposed wood beams.

The open kitchen now includes a huge island with storage, an exposed brick wall, and a gas stove with a pot filler. An owner’s suite as well as a guest bedroom and bath are both on the home’s main floor.

Upstairs, the custom-designed game room is a cool, multifunctional space.

It transforms into the fourth bedroom, which has a hidden Murphy bed and full bath, a perk that the family noted that they’d grown to appreciate.

“The Murphy bed is one of our favorite features, partly because we had no idea how often it would get used,” they said.

Set on just over a third of an acre, the large corner lot is surrounded by mature trees and landscaping that can be viewed from every window.

The backyard includes a patio for lounging. Out front, the stamped concrete patio is a perfect place for an al fresco gathering.

Interviewed after the renovation, the Jacksons were asked how the Gaines did in fulfilling their vision of rustic meets coastal in the middle of Texas. The couple love Hawaii, but live in Texas.

“I really wanted the home to have the same beach feel, really light and airy, but with the rustic touch Joanna is so good at,” Gayle Jackson said at the time. “I wanted the beachy feeling that was also warm and homey, and I loved how she combined the two.”

No word on why the Jacksons have decided to part with the place, but now you can catch a wave and buy this beachy Gaines makeover.

Amanda Cunningham with Coldwell Banker Apex, Realtors® holds the listing.

The post ‘Ivy House’ From ‘Fixer Upper’ Season 5 Is Available for $550K appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

source https://www.realtor.com/news/unique-homes/ivy-house-from-fixer-upper-season-5-is-available-for-550k/

HUD Secretary Ben Carson Sells Virginia Home for $1.35M

Ben Carson Virginia house — realtor.com, Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson sold his Virginia home for $1.35 million in late March.

Carson purchased the Vienna, VA, home back in January 2017 for $1.22 million, just a month after being nominated for the HUD post by President Donald Trump.

With an election cycle this fall, Carson opted to put on the market his home close to the nation’s capital. It went up for sale in late February for $1.3 million, and closed just a month later, at a price slightly above asking.

The two-story brick Colonial is located on 1.4 acres and features an open floor plan. Inside, you’ll find five bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms, and 6,380 square feet of living space.

Listing photos show a vacated, move-in ready residence with neutral walls, as well as a mix of hardwood and tile flooring.

The family living area features a fireplace, wet bar, and Palladian windows. A private study in the home provides an abundance of space and light. The gourmet kitchen has what the listing describes as an “octagonal” breakfast area that coaxes in plenty of natural light.

The 1,200-square-foot back deck offers plenty of space for entertaining, plus scenic views overlooking the woods.

The master suite, on the upper level, has a massive walk-in closet and fireplace. Its bathroom offers a soaking tub, plus his-and-hers sinks. The upper level also has three huge bedrooms with elegantly equipped bathrooms.

On the lower level, a large open area, which now has a disco ball for parties, could also be turned into a playroom, crafts room, or man cave.

Vienna provides easy access to the District of Columbia, as well as to shops, restaurants, and entertainment in nearby Tyson’s Corner.

Carson and his wife, Lacena (“Candy”), maintain a mansion near Baltimore, in Upperco, MD, on 35 acres, which they purchased in 2001 for $1.5 million. They also have a home in Florida.

In 2016, they shelled out $4.4 million for a mansion in Palm Beach Gardens. They had previously owned a nearby home in West Palm Beach, which they sold in May 2017 for $920,000.

Carson was represented by Julie Brodie with Engel & Völkers. The buyer was represented by Victoria Baker with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage.

The post HUD Secretary Ben Carson Sells Virginia Home for $1.35M appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

source https://www.realtor.com/news/celebrity-real-estate/ben-carson-sells-virginia-home/

Colonial Charmers: The 10 Oldest Homes To Land on the Market This Week

After three centuries, these 10 homes aren’t simply still standing—they’re also ready for a fresh start with a new owner.

For lovers of old houses, we’ve rounded up the 10 oldest homes to land on the market this week. What we uncovered is a collection of Colonial charmers with exciting stories to tell.

If you’re the entrepreneurial type, there’s a renovated schoolhouse built in 1715 that comes with an option to open an antiques shop.

There’s also Lapham manor, which was built in 1710 for an aristocrat. In Massachusetts, there’s a home that is believed to have hosted one of the first Japanese people in North America.

These aren’t just homes—they’re pieces of American history you can own! We’d love to hear from you if you make an offer on any one of these 10 oldies but goodies.

1. 1542 Wantagh Ave, Wantagh, NY

Price: $769,990
Built in 1700: This 320-year-old home has a dollhouse exterior and sits on a half-acre in the heart of town. Impeccably maintained over the centuries, this five-bedroom, Federal-style Colonial features a mahogany staircase, large great room, wide-plank pine flooring, and a yard filled with secret gardens to complete the fairy-tale feel.

Wantagh NY Colonial exterior — Wantagh, NY
realtor.com

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2. 223 Lake Rd, Bozrah, CT

Price: $775,000
Built in 1710: The listing says this is the oldest “authentically restored” home in the area. Known as the Lapham manor, the property is said to have originally belonged to an aristocratic Pilgrim. Today, the 96-acre gentleman’s farm includes a three-bedroom Colonial farmhouse, organic gardens, vineyards, an events barn, antique field sheds, and a pond.

Bozrah CT farmhouse — Bozrah, CT
realtor.com

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3. 64 Good Hill Rd, Oxford, CT

Price: $300,000
Built in 1710: Known as the Pringle-Wooster house, this three-bedroom Cape Codder has been carefully maintained by its current owner over the past 30 years. It features beamed ceilings, three fireplaces, and wide-board floors. The 1.5-acre property sits next to the Katharine Matthies Woodland Preserve with 45 acres of open spaces and hiking trails.

Oxford CT farm house exterior — Oxford, CT
realtor.com

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4. 10 Oxford St, Fairhaven, MA

Price: $425,000
Built in 1713: Part of the Manjiro Walking Trail, this home was where Manjiro Nakahama was given English lessons in the 1840s, according to the listing. Nakahama, a teenager rescued from a shipwreck by an American whaler, is said to have been one of the first Japanese people to live in America. Today the charming three-bedroom home has three fireplaces, wide-plank floors, and lovely gardens tucked among the trees on its half-acre lot.

Fairhaven, MA Allen sisters house exterior — Fairhaven, MA
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5. 13500 Longnecker Rd, Glyndon, MD

Price: $2,999,500
Built in 1713: Called the Welcome Here Farm, this 60-acre estate has walking trails, a duck pond, trout stream, and 10-stall horse barn. The main house is simply grand. At 9,000 square feet, this Colonial is designed for entertaining a crowd in high style and features a large dining room as well as a bar and patio overlooking the pool out back.

Welcome here farm exterior — Glyndon, MD
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6. 886 Main St N, Southbury, CT

Price: $639,000
Built in 1715: A local landmark, this Colonial schoolhouse was recently renovated. The three-bedroom main house features a family room with its original hearth and woodwork. There’s also a large loft over the barn and a guest cottage on the 3.3 acre-property, which is zoned for an antiques shop.

Southbury, CT schoohouse exterior — Southbury, CT
realtor.com

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7. Undisclosed address, Ashford, CT

Price: $239,000
Built in 1715: Stone walls and sugar maple trees border this pristine 6-acre property, which was once part of the 200-acre Bicknell Farm. The Cape Cod–style main house has three bedrooms and a screened porch overlooking the pasture. The property, which includes a barn built in 2004, sits adjacent to the 25-acre Bicknell-Harris Preserve.

Ashford, CT farm house exterior — Ashford, CT
realtor.com

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8. 27 Lakemans Ln, Ipswich, MA

Price: $719,900
Built in 1719: Located near downtown, this 3,000-square-foot Colonial features a four-season sunroom and patio. The 1.4-acre property provides plenty of room to stretch out in the yard. All city residents are eligible to purchase a $20 annual pass to nearby Crane Beach.

Ipswitch, MA Colonial exterior — Ipswich, MA
realtor.com

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9. 614 Child St, Warren, RI

Price: $339,900
Built in 1728: According to the listing, this may be one of the oldest homes in town. The 2,250-square-foot charmer has three bedrooms, six fireplaces, and wide-plank floors. The 1.5-acre lot can also be subdivided to build additional homes.

Warren, RI Colonial exterior — Warren, RI
realtor.com

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10. 192 Hope Valley Rd, Hebron, CT

Price: $369,900
Built in 1734: This center-chimney Cape Cod is known as the Nathaniel Phelps Jr. home. Careful updates to the three-bedroom dwelling have created a nice balance of historic charm and modern convenience. The 4-acre property is surrounded by rustic stone walls and includes pastures, several outbuildings, a kitchen garden, and a variety of fruit trees and bushes.

Hebron CT farmhouse exterior — Hebron, CT
realtor.com

The post Colonial Charmers: The 10 Oldest Homes To Land on the Market This Week appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

source https://www.realtor.com/news/trends/colonial-charmers-10-oldest-homes-to-hit-the-market-this-week/

Monday, 29 June 2020

Pia Zadora Selling ‘Impeccable’ Las Vegas Home for $2.25M

Pia Zadora house — realtor.com, Denise Truscello/WireImage

The singer and actress Pia Zadora is selling a harmonious home in Las Vegas. The contemporary residence is on the market for $2.25 million.

The long-time performer, whose acting career came to a crashing halt when her performances in the 1980s were universally panned, moved on from her movie critics and started afresh as a songstress.

She was most recently featured in a weekly cabaret act in Las Vegas. She also appears to dabble in real estate, and is letting go of this home, which was built in 2016.

The single-story abode, located in Boulder Ridge, is part of a 42-home enclave at the base of the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. With three bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms, the interior is “simple and sophisticated,” with “impeccable” design, according to the listing description.

The living space opens outside.
realtor.com

The desert dwelling has a bright, open floor plan across its 4,027 square feet. It’s highlighted by a great room that features a living area with fireplace, a built-in bar with a wine fridge, and walls of windows that lead outside.

A large, sleek kitchen has been “maxed out with top-of-the-line appliances,” a counter with bar seating, and intriguing tile backsplashes. The kitchen opens out on the dining and living space.

A master suite comes complete with a private outdoor retreat off the master bathroom. The home’s layout also includes big secondary bedrooms for guest accommodations.

Outside, the large lot boasts a pool and spa, barbecue area, fire pit, and patios for dining and lounging.

The entertainer placed a different Vegas home on the market in 2018. Located in the planned Summerlin community, that upscale abode offered 4,700 square feet, five bedrooms, and was on the market for $3.25 million.

Zadora also made headlines in 1990, when she reportedly tore down a legendary Beverly Hills home called Pickfair, the former home of the movie stars Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks, reportedly because she believed it was haunted.

Gavin Ernstone with Simply Vegas holds the listing.

The post Pia Zadora Selling ‘Impeccable’ Las Vegas Home for $2.25M appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

source https://www.realtor.com/news/celebrity-real-estate/pia-zadora-selling-impeccable-las-vegas-home/

Will the Government Stop a Wave of Struggling Renters From Being Evicted?

With millions of Americans out of work and struggling to pay their rent, the federal government is offering landlords a break in the hopes it will avert a tidal wave of evictions.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency announced on Monday that landlords with government-backed mortgages are eligible for an additional three months of mortgage forbearance—provided they don’t evict tenants who can’t pay their rent during that time. The initial forbearance period, in which building owners suffering coronavirus-related hardships could put off their mortgage payments, was about to expire for those who had sought assistance at the start of the pandemic. The extension is designed to trickle down to renters by taking the pressure off landlords who are on the hook for their own monthly mortgage payments.

The forbearance is only for owners of multifamily properties of five or more units who have mortgages backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Landlords must be facing financial hardship due to the coronavirus to receive the assistance.

“This is essentially a win-win for the landlord and the tenant,” says George Ratiu, senior economist with realtor.com®. “Landlords were still expected to pay down their mortgages without revenue [aka rent checks] coming in. What we were looking at was a potential mass wave of evictions as the prior forbearance period was coming to an end. We still have over 20 million Americans drawing unemployment.”

This could potentially help about 4.2 million renters living in more than 27,000 properties that would qualify for this temporary relief, according to Freddie Mac. That’s a little less than a tenth of the almost 44 million renter households in the U.S. in 2018, according to Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies. However, the rest of the mortgage market takes cues from the actions that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac take, so the impact is potentially even greater.

“The multifamily mortgage forbearance extension announced today will help renters stay in their homes and help property owners retain their properties,” FHFA Director Mark Calabria said in a statement.

Once the forbearance is up, landlords can apply to have up to two years to make up the missed mortgage payments. During that time, the building owners must extend some protections to their tenants. Renters must be given at least a 30-day notice to leave the property, and they can’t be charged fees for late or missed rent payments. In addition, renters will be allowed to make up missed payments over time and not be required to hand over a lump sum—an impossibility for many struggling tenants.

“These additional relief options will provide more flexibility to borrowers and extend tenant protections for renters who also continue to struggle with the economic effects of the pandemic,” Debby Jenkins, executive vice president and head of Freddie Mac Multifamily, said in a statement.

Renters aren’t as well-positioned to weather a recession as many homeowners. They made a median $41,515 in 2017—compared with $77,523 for homeowner households, according to a National Multifamily Housing Council report.

Meanwhile, many tenants work in lower-wage industries that have been hard-hit by the pandemic, such as tourism and hospitality, food service, and retail. With a 13.3% unemployment rate in May, not all of these folks have gone back to work yet. That makes coming up with the rent money each month a challenge.

“This is the best and fastest way that the government can provide relief to renters,” says Ratiu. “It allows the property owner to avoid taking a loss.”

The post Will the Government Stop a Wave of Struggling Renters From Being Evicted? appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

source https://www.realtor.com/news/real-estate-news/landlord-forbearance-stop-evictions/

Historic Home From Frank Lloyd Wright’s Usonian Period in Wisconsin Available for $425K

Usonian wisconsin frank lloyd wright — Bryan Hung

This Usonian gem in Wausau, WI, was snapped up by a Texas couple as a vacation home in Northern Wisconsin. Now they hope to find a new occupant who’s just as smitten with the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright.

“We were looking for a Frank Lloyd Wright home—it didn’t matter where—at a price we could afford,” explains homeowner David Wood.

They ended up purchasing the four-bedroom, three-bathroom Charles and Dorothy Manson home. Built in 1940, it is considered an early piece from Wright’s Usonian period.

When Wood saw the home six years ago, he made an offer with no contingencies, getting it for $160,000. Now that he’s spending less time in Wisconsin, he’s ready to unload the 2,462-square-foot home for $425,000.

Constructed from local Ringle bricks and Tidewater cypress in a board and batten design, the home earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places during Wood’s ownership.

Wood thinks the next owner might be in search of a “trophy home” or a secondary residence. Interest so far has come from architects.

“We’re not looking for a local person so much,” says Wood, “because it’s a unique home. I’m not looking for the casual ‘Gee, this has been in the area for years and I’m finally going to take a look’ type of buyer.”

Wright fans will recognize his signature perforated windows and compressed entry hall and gallery. There’s also an abundance of light in the living room thanks to a wall of windows and 11-foot ceiling.

Although the Manson family kept the property until the late 1960s, “there’s been maybe nine or 10 different families over the years” who have owned the home, says Wood. Of those families, “two still live in the area.”

As with Wright’s other Usonian homes, the residence sits slightly lower than street level and features a long, horizontal design. The original carport was turned into a storage room by a previous owner, but it’s now been restored.

Wood and his spouse updated the home while maintaining the architectural integrity. They worked with the local historic preservation committee to replace the pebble and tar flat roof with a rubber roof. They also refinished and restained the exterior wood, restored the second-floor bath, and remodeled the kitchen.

Other upgrades include new landscaping, working fireplaces, and an updated heating system. They also created custom seat cushions and insulated curtains.

Using Wright’s blueprints—which come with the house—they commissioned furnishings for the home. Several pieces will remain with the home, including the dining chairs and the framed photos in the 44-foot-long gallery. Also included in the home sale: the original clothes-drying rack and an adjacent 0.34-acre lot just north of the property.

The home fits seamlessly into its surroundings.

“A lot of historic homes are in this area,” says Wood. “Several homes are on the National Register of Historic Places. It is very hilly, very green, and the neighbors are wonderful.”

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Watch: This Frank Lloyd Wright Home Is a Classic That Feels Modern

The post Historic Home From Frank Lloyd Wright’s Usonian Period in Wisconsin Available for $425K appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

source https://www.realtor.com/news/unique-homes/frank-lloyd-wright-wisconsin-usonian-for-sale/